goodbye 2008...HELLO 2009!!!

2008 was indeed an eventful year. Like most years, it brought both bad and good memories - one of which was going to Europe with my family! :))) My wish for 2009 is that it'll be a smooth sailing year. A great new start for us indeed as we embark on our new journey in our new home. May it bring us the warmth and happiness our previous place had brought us. Good health is something we all need as well. Here's wishing everyone happiness and good health in the brand new year. Have a fantastic one everyone!

Feliz Navidad 2008

Here are pictures from our Christmas party after midnight mass. Enjoy viewing!

I should be so lucky!!!

When I was on my way back, a wonderful aroma greeted me when the lift door to my home opened last Friday.

Though the main door and gate were closed and the curtains drawn, I could hear romantic, jazz tunes coming from my house as I stood outside struggling and juggling between my shopping bags to dig deep into my bag to look for my house keys.

Then, he opens the door. In a dashing shirt, long pants and choker round his neck, he stole my breath away. Just like he did 11 years ago when we first started dating. As he stood at the door, reaching his hands out to mine with his come hither eyes, he invited me to dinner. All this while, I just could not stop grinning and I could actually feel my face turning red as I started to blush.

Lightings were kept to the minimum, romantic and dim. Music was oh so lovely too. Table was beautifully laid with dinner, all cooked lovingly by him. Judging from the food courses and presentation and the way the house was spick and span, alot of work and effort was put in. Apparently, he had planned this for sometime. He took a half day off from work, dropped the kids off at the in laws, went grocery shopping, came home and prepared the evening's lovely dinner all by himself. He and I had the most lovely and enjoyable evening together.

HE is none other than MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, MY ROCK AND MY ANCHOR, MY SOULMATE and THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. HE is none other than my hubs. I'll say it again, THANK YOU for everything. You really, really complete me. I'll always remember what you sang to me that night, "I WANNA GROW OLD WITH YOU, TOO".

Hey Love! It's been 10 years....

(In no particular order)

1. You want me to be happy more than you care what other people think.

2. You always seem to see the good in me, or at least choose to focus on the positive.

3. You support my life choices and whatever dreams and aspirations I have (even though it can be ridiculous at times).

4. You let me make my own mistakes, but never, not ever, once I heard you say "I told you so" after.

5. You are genuinely damn fun to be with, from trying to cheat at Boogle, to insisting we sing or play word games in the car even though the kids and me are tired after a long day, to your imitation of a geek (I'LL NEVER FORGET that evening you center-parted your hair and had that bucked teeth whilst waiting for me! Even mom got a shock and asked if you were outta your mind!)

6. You show me the adage I live by : If you have it, bloody well flaunt it, and the devil be damned. "She is all mine, mine, MINE!", you would say.

7. My family members and friends ADORE and LOVE you, which says alot about your personality. (to the point whereby its okay for me to not be there but NOT okay if you are not! too much, I say! :)

8. Your patience with the kids. Your accomodating and calm composure when you taught them on the use of "Money" took you a whole Sunday, you were drained but thoroughly satisfied spending time bonding with the kiddos. It's moved on to teaching them "HOW TO TELL THE TIME" and their daily and nightly rounds of Chinese Chess with you. Its no wonder no matter how strict you are with the kiddos, they still love you dearly and want to hang around you all the time.

9. You do not nag but put up with mine instead ;) PLUS you never fail to put a smile on my face with your witty wordplay.

10. No matter how tired you are, you've never once complain or say "NO" when I request for a massage (which is oh-so satisfying btw) or when I crave for a midnight drive, movie or hot chocolate.

GOD has been really kind and good to me - I don't know what I did in my lifetime to deserve such a wonderful, sweet, funny and passionate man like you. Here's to another 10 x 10 years, baby. HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY DARLING!

Ninja Popster!

The kiddos get to go to bed slightly later during the school holidays (except for the last 2 weeks before school reopens).

So there they were... playing, sharing their little secrets and laughing happily together in their room when their dad, yes, dear hubs decides to surprise them in his self made ninja do! (yes at times, hubs is really that free ....and cheeky!)

And now, both are crying because of the fright they had! Hubs crept up to them and gave them such a shock! Plus, Mr Ninja Tan is so proud of his self made ninja gear wrapper over his head from his CK white inner tee!

Excuse me whilst I go over to the next room and console them.

Lelong, Lelong!

As with the title of the blog entry, we've got furniture up for grabs. We've decided to be fair and let whoever who responds the fastest, get first dips. Inventory are as follows (for now ... you bet more items will be added to the list later!)

1. 1 LG washing machine (yes, i am putting down the quantity coz i know people who own 3 washers in their 5-room flats! Search me!)

2. 1 shoe cabinet (enough for 15 pairs of adult shoes)

3. 1 baby high chair (if you must know, the brand's Pierre Cardin. Hey, it was the only one brand available when we bought it in Robinson's that time!)

4. 1 bedside table (no brand but one could play chess on it coz the markings embedded on the surface top)

5. 1 blessed baby cot....or rather, a baby cot that's been blessed! (without the mattress as we recently threw it out due to wear and tear)

I know some of you are eyeing on our bed coz though its been broken and fixed by the hubs twice, its still standing strong, hence proving that its damn solid. Sorry to say that this is NOT up for grabs as the couple whom we sold our home too 'choped' it even though we highlighted the fault ;)

And did I mention that I absolutely HATE the packing that comes along with the moving??

Magnificent Malacca

One of the first few things that drew me to hubs when we were first introduced by mutual friends were his sense of adventure and his spontaneous nature ;)

Having said that, since it was a long weekend break this week, out of the blue, hubs decided that that he take his parents, the kiddos and me on a day trip to Malacca. He had wanted it to be somewhat of a cultural learning experience trip for the kiddos to acquire some knowledge of their Peranakan roots from my side of the family. How sweet :)

My parents in law are such fun and sporting folks too. Now I know where hubs got his traits froms. Anyway, we got up bright and early on Sunday morning whilst the sky was still so dark. It was sinful to be waking up at that unGodly hour on a Sunday, if you ask me. Those days, I used to return home at the same unGoldly hour during the wee hours of Sunday morning after supper, after clubbing with the usual suspects aka brady bunch, only to wake up a few hours later for Sunday mass. Ahhh, those were the days. Ok, I am disgressing here...

Picked up hot chocolate for everyone en route to Tuas checkpoint, we began our drive to Malacca which lasted all of 2.5 hours. We wasted no time and got straight to shopping once we had parked. Picked out several items on our shopping list and headed for the famous A FAMOSA CHICKEN RICE BALLS along Jonker's Walk. If you must know, the second last chicken rice stall at Dover Market in Singapore is still the best, to me. The grandparents indulged in the kiddos. Letting them eat and buy whatever they fancied or caught their eyes. Hubs clicked away and took lovely shots of the rich, lovely and historical town filled with both tourists and locals that Sunday. If not for the grey skies that appeared out of nowhere suddenly, we would have lingered a few hours longer. But alas, we made a beeline to where we parked, avoiding the thuderstorm that followed shortly after. It was a 4 hours car-ride back, only because hubs took the trunk road. It was an experience indeed, opening our eyes to capture the way the townsfolk live. Its just that the journey was longer than expected and we will make sure not to repeat this and go via North-South when we head back there, hopefully before the school break ends.

Birthday Shoutout!

Dearest sweet, charming, thoughtful and eldest niece of mine,

Happy 8th Birthday dearie. Continue to do well in all that you do and may your dreams and aspirations come true!!

ps. Break a leg on your upcoming ballet performance of The Nutcracker which opens next week!

All Hail !!! New King in Town....

If ever anyone of you come across or meet the inventors of this sensational product, you MUST inform me at all costs!!! I will personally go and kiss his/her feet!

The nasal strips are GOD sent, I tell you! Was getting toiletries at the drugstore couple of weeks ago when this in-store promoter practically forced me into listening to her sales pitch! On hindsight, thank heavens I did :) coz this thing really works wonders, believe you me!

For years, the man whom I go to bed with every night snores like a motorcyclist who revs and revs but is still stuck in the same spot, you get the picture? Nights when alcohol is consumed, the revving gets two notches louder!

No offence sweetie-pie, you still ROCK MY WORLD ;)

What's Been Up

...and if you are wondering, YES! The hot water bottle has been my best friend and constant companion for the past 10 days or so.

Hubs had gone to pick the kiddos up from the swimming pool where they were having lessons. I was alone at home and was dressing up when I had an epileptic seizure. Fell and hurt myself really bad :( Was totally unconscious whilst it happened and lasted but the irony of it all was that...when I came to and opened my eyes, there I was on the bed! But boy did I ache all over or what! Don't ask how I got there either. I have been asking that same question the past 10 days or so myself. The damage? Two hard knocks on my head more towards my right, my right shoulder blade, my tooth right at the back of my mouth on the upper right was chipped as well and my back...OoooH MY BACK! In fact, a visit to the sinseh last week confirmed my fears....that I had hurt my tailbone and that it was swollen!

I am fine now. Albeit, abit depressed and sad about WHY it happened. What triggered it? The stress at work recently? The dismissal of some colleagues hit me really bad, I must admit. Or was it the alcohol consumed the night before? Everyone in the office had wanted a break and a lovely dinner with awesome pairings of wine were what we had. I have been trying very hard to recall WHAT actually happened, but to no avail that I have given up.

Anyhow, THANK YOUs are in order here. I am extremely happy and lucky to receive the many, many support and love from my wonderful family and friends. For that, I deeply THANK YOU sincerely from the bottom of my heart.

To the LOVE OF MY LIFE, for better or worst, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.....you truly deserve a standing ovation for the tremendous amount of overpouring love.

ps. thank you also for the soothing nightly massages on my still-so-sore back ;)